UFC's Faber open to facing Edgar, expects to one day meet McDonald

MILWAUKEE – UFC bantamweight Urijah Faber (29-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) doesn’t know who will be standing across from him the next time he steps into the octagon, but he’s hoping for the biggest name possible.

One option that seems to keep popping up is a potential showdown with former UFC lightweight champion and current featherweight contender Frankie Edgar (16-4-1 MMA, 10-4-1 UFC). Faber said he hasn’t been approached about such a plan, but he’s certainly open to the possibility.

“I would consider that,” Faber said at Friday’s UFC Fight Club Q&A session when asked about a potential Edgar fight. “I’d like to talk to those guys, the matchmakers, and see if it’s something we can make happen.

“I don’t necessarily have much say in my fights. Throughout the history of my career, I’ve always just kind of taken who they’ve given me, and I don’t know if I’d go up for that weight or they would come down or do a catchweight or something like that, but I’m definitely open to it. I do want big fights in this career.”

Faber fought earlier this month at UFC Fight Night 26, where he survived some early trouble against Iuri Alcantara before rebounding for an impressive unanimous-decision win. The victory extended Faber’s current win streak to three fights in the UFC”s bantamweight division.

Unfortunately for Faber, he’s already lost to current bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and interim champ Renan Barao. With Cruz’s return date still uncertain and Barao set to face Eddie Wineland in September, Faber’s title prospects are a bit uncertain for the immediate future.

Edgar, a longtime lightweight, dropped to 145 pounds this year but fell short in a bid to unseat current champ Jose Aldo. He then bounced back for a “Fight of the Night” win over Charles Oliveira.

Of course, Faber hasn’t fought outside of the bantamweight division since 2010, so it isn’t clear what weight would be used for the potential matchup. Additionally, Faber is a top-ranked bantamweight right now, and UFC officials may prefer to keep him fighting in the division.

Faber isn’t exactly calling out “Mayday,” but he admits a future matchup with the 22-year-old phenom is inevitable.

“I’m down,” Faber said. “I’m going to fight all these guys. Anybody that’s at the top tier is going to be fighting me at some point. That’s a fight that’s going to happen.

“I actually watched McDonald’s first fight when he was 16 years old, and I’ve always kind of had my eye on him. It’s been impressive to watch him, and I’m willing to go up there and beat him up.”

At 34 years old, Faber remains one of the UFC’s most marketable commodities. “The California Kid” has never lost in a non-title fight, and he’s unquestionably one of the best bantamweights in the world. Whether he elects to stay in the division or perhaps venture outside of it for interesting matchups remains to be seen.

For his part, Faber seems open to just about every possibility.

“If we could make a big fight happen, I’m always for that,” Faber said.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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